Australian Open Director Hints at Nick Kyrgios’ Return Amidst Injury Woes

In a recent statement, the Australian Open Tournament Director expressed optimism about the participation of Nick Kyrgios in next year’s Melbourne major. Kyrgios, who has been battling knee and wrist injuries, has not been prominently active in competitive circuits for the past two years with his only appearance being a first-round loss in Stuttgart in June 2023.

Speaking on Nine‘s “Today” show, the Tournament Director was quoted saying, “The one we’re keeping an eye on will be Nick Kyrgios – Nick will be back.” However, he later tempered his statement by adding, “Well, like every other player, we’d love to have Nick back. We know he’s out there practicing and preparing for the summer. He loves playing in Australia.” The director emphasized their anticipation of his return but acknowledged that his participation is subject to change depending on his health in the coming months.

Kyrgios has largely shifted his focus to media duties this year, notably serving as a commentator and analyst for ESPN during Grand Slam events. Despite uncertainties surrounding Kyrgios’s participation, the Australian men’s tennis landscape is thriving, with a significant presence in the ATP top-100, sharing this distinction with France. Italy and the USA follow closely with nine players each in the top-100 rankings.

The situation is more challenging for Australian women, with players like Olivia Gadecki and Ajla Tomljanovic currently within the top-100. Several others, such as Arina Rodionova, Maya Joint, and Daria Saville, are ranked within the top-200 and could potentially qualify for the main draw slated to begin on January 12.

The tournament director also highlighted the impressive rise of Alex de Minaur, who recently entered the top-10, marking an exciting phase for Australian tennis. “We are absolutely excited about the line-up both on the men’s and the women’s side for what’s going to be an unbelievable three weeks of summer,” he stated.